Planters

Planters: make the right choice

Planters are a great way to brighten up your balcony or patio with a splash of green. They can be rectangular or wall-mounted and made of materials like wood, plastic, clay or zinc. Planters can even be fitted with trellises to accommodate climbing plants.

Planters are designed to hold flowers or decorative plants, and usually find their home on a balcony or patio.

- They can be equipped with brackets to hang from a railing or balustrade.

- Containers can also be hung from the ceiling by a chain in which case they are generally called hanging baskets.

- Planters give plants the opportunity to flourish by allowing them all the space they need to grow.

- They are usually filled with a mixture of annual or biennial plants and perennials. Herbs can also be used to fill a planter.

Before you make your purchase, it's important to think of a few safety features to ensure you can enjoy your planter or hanging basket risk-free.

- If your balcony is part of a shared building, the bracket used to mount the planter must be equipped with a locking system or another type of safety device. This way, the planter isn't in danger of coming loose and falling.

- It is best to purchase a drainage plate or drip tray to hold excess water from watering if one is not supplied by the manufacturer.

- A self-watering system can be used to keep moisture at a certain level so you don't have to water as often. These systems are also great if you tend to forget to water.

Raised beds are multi-purpose plant containers designed for outdoor use.

- They can be used to accommodate individual shrubs or to create flower and plant arrangements. Raised beds can also be used to grow vegetables and herbs.

- Flower boxes usually measure about 40 cm in length and can stand up to 1 metre in height. Whether square or rectangular in shape, they come in a variety of materials such as resin, wood or concrete. Holes are provided for drainage.

- Larger than flower boxes, raised beds for vegetable gardens are specially designed to accommodate several types of vegetables. They are often made of wood and can be open at the bottom or feature a base.

- Planters with trellises or mini pergolas are the perfect type of containers for climbing plants such as clematis.

- Planters with legs are recommended for anyone hoping to set up a balcony vegetable garden without hurting their back!

In summary, the main factors to bear in mind when choosing a planter or raised bed are size, material and design all of which depend on what you plan to grow. In terms of cleaning, the care requirements will depend on material and strength of the planter. The colour and design of the containers should be chosen to match the décor of your garden, patio or balcony.